Pillow block



y 3, 1950 D. SULLIVAN 2,508,873

PILLOW BLOCK Filed May 10, 1946 Patented May 23, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE "PILLOW BLOCK Donald L. Sullivan, Oshkosh, Wis. Application May 10, 1946, Serial No. 668,730

8 Claims. 1

invention relates to inventions in pillow blocks, and more particularly to a self-alining pillowblock or bearing.

Generally defined, an object of the present invention is to provide an easily manufactured, self-lubricating, resiliently supported bearing or pillow block for a shaft which is readily adjustable so as to insure proper alinement of the supported shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pillow-block assemblage which will function effectively to prevent the transmission of vibration .from the Shah; mounted therein to the bearing support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pillow block which includes a deep drawn sheet metal cup member having portions of two opposite side walls thereof apertured and turned to tightly support a bearing bushing, with said bushing serving to seal said wall openings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pillow block wherein the interior of the cup member is readily accessible for replenishment of lubricant therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pillow block wherein alinement of the supported shaft isreadily attained by means of .fore and aft, or horizontal adjustments of the cup member relative to its vertical supporting bolt.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lubricated'shaft bearing formed with a relatively large capacity oil reservoir, a major portion of which is below the shaft-engaging bushing, whereby undesirable leakage of oil is prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pillow block which is easily and inexpensively produced from stampings and which, when assembled, requires but a single bolt for its "attachment'which is located directly under the center of rotation of the pillow block cup.

.A further object of the invention is to provide a pillow block which is cushioned or resiliently mounted in a novel and practical manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. pillow block assemblage which may be produced commercially expeditiously and at a minimum or cost, which is neat and compact, which isstrong and durable and etficient in operation, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved pillow block and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

Fig. '5 is a plan View of a resilient cushion or pad such as is used in the assemblage between the supporting member and the pillow block saddle; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a resilient washer used in the assemblage between the undersutace of the supporting bar and the bolt-carried metal washer.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will appear that the improved pillow block or hearing includes a deep drawn sheet metal cup 8, preferably shaped as shown and having an open upper end, normally closed by a flanged cover member 9. Opposite side walls of the cup are formed with alined openings II] with the metal surrounding the openings being turned preferably inwardly to form collars H for the support of a bearing bushing l 2. Said bearing bushing is of cylindrical formation and is formed of any suitable porous metal. It has a force fit with the inner surfaces of the inturned collars ll and serves to seal said openings. As viewed from Figs. 1 and 3, the bottom of the cup 8 has an intermediate portion #3 which is of convex curvature and merges with curved end portions 14.

The interior of the cup 8 adapted to beiilled with felt wicking or packing i5 and it will be noted from Fig. 3-that a substantial reservoir portion of the cup 8, with the packing therein, is disposed below the bearing bushing l2. It is intended that the wi-cking 15 within thecup be maintained well saturated with oil which seeps through the porous bearing bushing 'I2to lu-bri cate a shaft; revolubly'extended through the bearing bushing i2 suported by the cup 8.

Removal of the cover 9 affords access to the interior of the cup 8 for servicing or oil replenishment. The relatively large'openin exposed by the removal of the cover facilitates these-procedures. Depended from a rivet ll :extended through the mid-portion of the cover 9 are complementary spring arms I8 which. when the cover is in the closing position shown, frictionally-ems .55 brace oppositesidesofthe bearing bushing}? and serve to retain the cover on the cup and eliminate possible rattling thereof, while still providing for the removal of the cover when desired.

A sheet metal strap is indicated by the numeral I9. This strap is provided with a rectangular opening 20 therein which, before assembly, adjustably receives the squared inner end of a mounting bolt 2! with the bottom of the enlarged head of the bolt engaging the top face portion of the strap [9, it bein noted that the strap is shaped as a segment of a sphere, having a curvature which conforms to the curved bottom portions I 4 of the cup 8. The curved portions M. of the bottom of the cup are welded or otherwise secured to the contacting portions of the strap I9, and it will be noted that as thus assembled, the convex portion 43 of the bottom of the cup forms with the strap I 9, a pocket to accommodate the curved head of the bolt 2|. This arrangement is important in that following mounting of the complete assembly on a support, the composite casing and curved strap may be turned horizontally or rocked fore and aft on the anchored bolt 2|.

The numeral 22 indicates a stamped sheet metal base saddle having a top surface which is curved to conform to the curvature of the strap l8 and which is adapted to adjustably mount the composite cup and attached strap B| 9. It will be noted that the bottom peripheral portion of the base saddle 22 is flat so as to rest evenly on a fiat supporting surface. There is provided in the mid-portion of the saddle 22 a squared open ing 23 through which the shank of the bolt 2| depends.

Any suitable support on which the improved pillow block or bearing is to be mounted is indicated by the numeral 21, and it is only necessary that said support 24 be provided with a single opening 25 therethrough to receive the single mounting bolt 21 of the assembly. It may be desirable to provide a cushion as between the bottom peripheral portion of the metallic base saddle 22 and the surface of the support 24. For this purpose a cushion slab or strip 25, formed of synthetic rubber or other resilient oil-proof material, is interposed between the adjacent portions of the base saddle 22 and the support 24. It will be noted from Fig. that said pad 25 is initially formed with a cut therethrough in the form of a cross or X, as indicated at 26. The opening 20 in the support 24 is of somewhat greater diameter than the shank of the bolt 2|. Therefore, when the shank of the bolt 21 is passed through the cut 26, the resilient material therefrom is forced downwardly into the support opening 25 to surround and cushion that portion of the bolt which passes through the support opening.

The assembly is secured onto the support 24 in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and the depending end of the bolt 21 carries a conventional metallic washer 21 and a nut 28. An additional cushioning element in the form of a disc or washer of synthetic rubber or the like 29 (Fig. 6) may be interposed between the bottom surface of the support 24 and the metal washer 21. Said rubber washer or disc 29, like the pad 25, is provided with a cut 30 in the form of a cross or X and in assembled relation the material deflected from the opening when the bolt 2! is passed therethrough, extends into the opening in the metal washer 21 and additionally cushions the bolt shank. The cushioning members 25 and 29 are desirable from the standpoint of deadening any sound or vibration such as might occur during the revolving of the supported shaft It as a collars,

4 result of contacting a metal surface. The relatively large cushioning pad 25 between the support 24 and the base saddle 22 effectively distributes the load over a relatively large area, with said load resting on an effective cushion which provides a very desirable noise deadening effect.

In the improved pillow block or bearing, metal to metal contact is effectively eliminated and the revoluble shaft l6 turns within the bearing bushing I 2 and is maintained in a well lubricated condition with respect thereto. The elimination of noise and vibration especially adapts the bearing for use in connection with the shafts of air conditioning and heating equipment, blowers and fans, where silence of the operating members is highly desirable. However, the field of application is obviously in connection with any type of rotating shaft which is to be supported by a bearing. The assembly is extremely simple and compact and the improved pillow block is mounted on a support through the use of a single attaching bolt 2|. As has been previously mentioned, the composite structure 8-l 9 which shiftably engages the head portion of the mounting bolt 21, because of the manner in which the head portion of the bolt is engaged, and because of the contacting spherical surfaces, permits the cup 8 to be turned horizontally on the bolt 2i or to be rocked fore and aft relative to the saddle 22.

These movements facilitate ready alinement of the supported shaft i6. As has been mentioned heretofore, the large capacity reservoir is easy to keep provided with a correct supply of lubricant and the possibility of lubricant leakage is minimized. The manner in which the sleeves H are drawn, with the bearing bushing I2 having a force fit therewith, prevents leakage of lubricant through the wall openings.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the precise details of construction herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appeiided claims may occur to persons skilled in the ar What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a bearing for revolving shafts, a support, relatively deep cup member having a curved bottom surface, a shaft receiving porous bushing extending through said cup member, a saddle in terposed between the support and the cup member, the top surface of the saddle being curved in conformity with the bottom of the cup member and having the latter adjustably seated therein, and a unitary member for connecting the cup member and the saddle to permit relative adjust-: ment, said unitary member also serving as the means for anchoring the assembly to the support.

2. In a bearing for revolving shafts, an open top cup member having a. curved bottom surface, a removable cover for the top of said cup memher, a shaft receiving bushing extending through said cup member, spring clips depended from the cover and engaging said bushing to releasably retain the cover on the cup member, a saddle adjustably engaged by the curved bottom ofthe cup member, and means for connecting the cup member and saddle in a manner to permit adjustments of the cup member relative to the saddle.

3. In a bearing for revolving shafts, a support, a cup member having a curved bottom surface, opposite side walls of the cup member being formed with alined openings with the stock surrounding said openings being turned to provide a shaft receiving bushing extending through said cup member and being tightl engaged by said collars, a saddle interposed between the support and the bottom of the cup member and adjustably engaging the latter, and unitary means for anchoring the assemblage to the support and permitting relative adjustments between the saddle and cup member.

4. In a bearing for revolving shafts, a cup member, a shaft-receiving bushing extending transversely through said cup member, a concave strap secured to the bottom of the cup member and having a slot therein, there being an ovate cavity between a bottom portion of the cup member and the strap, a bolt having its head disposed within said cavity and having its shank extending through said strap slot, an apertured saddle having a concavity receiving said strap with said bolt extending through said saddle aperture, and a support rigidly engaged by said bolt and saddle.

5. In a bearing for revolving shafts, a cup member, a shaft-receiving bushing extending transversely through said cup member, a concave strap secured to the bottom of the cup member and having a slot therein, there being an ovate cavity between a bottom portion of the cup member and the strap, a bolt having its head relatively movably disposed within said cavity and having its shank extending relatively movably through said strap slot, an apertured saddle having a concavity receiving said strap with said bolt extending through said saddle aperture, and a support rigidly engaged by said bolt and saddle, the assemblage permitting swivel and rocking adjustments of the cup relative to the saddle and support for shaft alining purposes.

6. In a bearing for revolving shafts, a support, a metal cup member having a curved bottom surface, a shaft receiving bushing extending through said cup member, a metal saddle ion which the bottom of the cup member is adjustably seated, a support, an anchoring bolt depending from the cup member and extending through the saddle and, the support, a nut on the outer end of the bolt, a metal washer on the the support.

bolt inwardly of the nut, a resilient disc between the washer and one face of the support, and a cushion interposed between the bottom of the saddle and the other face of the support.

7. In combination, a support, a saddle mounted thereon, a pillow block adjustably mounted on the saddle, the saddle and support having alined openings therethrough, a bolt depended from said pillow block and having its shank passed through said openings, and resilient pads carried by the bolt on opposite faces of the support, material of a pad being deformed by the bolt to lodge in the support opening and surround the bolt shank portion therein.

8. In a bearing for revolving shafts, metal cup member having a curved bottom surface, opposite side walls of the cup member being formed with alined openings, a shaft receiving bushing extending through said cup member and said alined openings, a concave strap secured to the bottom of the cup member and having an elongated slot therein, there being an ovate cavity between a bottom portion of the cup member and the strap, a bolt having its head disposed within said cavity and having its shank extending through said strap slot, an apertured saddle having a concavity adj ustably receiving said strap with said bolt extending through said saddle aperture, and a support through which said bolt extends whereby the saddle is rigidly secured to DONALD L. SULLIVAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,703,765 Duffy Feb. 26, 1929 2,138,659 Kindig Nov. 29, 1938 2,230,472 Sullivan Feb. 4, 1941 2,270,392 Talmadge et al. Jan. 20, 1942 2,318,477 Firth May 4, 1943 

